Section 66.77, the so-called Open MeetingLaw, was repealed and recreated byChapter 297, Laws of 1973.

You request my opinion as to whether jointapprenticeship committees are "governmentalbodies" within the meaning of Section66.77(2)(c), Stats., and thus subject to thevarious requirements of the Open Meeting Law.

These committees, composed of citizensserving without reimbursement, are appointedby the Department of Industry, Labor andHuman Relations (DILHR) to help carry out itsresponsibilities under Chapter 106, Stats.

The committees are nonstatutory and servelargely in an advisory capacity to DILHR.

Section 66.77(2)(c), Stats.,provides as follows:

66.77(2)(c) "Governmental body" means

a state or local agency, board, commission,committee, council or department created byconstitution, statute, ordinance, rule ororder; a municipal or quasi-municipalcorporation; or a formally constitutedsubunit of any of the foregoing.